Position Overview

The Program Officer (Rwanda) is the Program Manager’s strategic right hand, working across all four SET4LYF components to keep implementation coherent, on track, and ready for donor and government reporting. The Program Officer (Rwanda) takes primary ownership of rolling out the Social Equity Program, while also supporting the Program Manager on cross-cutting strategic work: partnership development, donor reporting, government relations, and quality oversight across workstream leads. The Program Officer (Rwanda) works closely with the Program Assistant, handing off operational and logistical execution so the Assistant can focus fully on delivery, while the Officer keeps sight of the bigger picture.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Support to the Program Manager 

• Act as thought partner to the Program Manager on program strategy,  prioritization, and problem-solving across all SET4LYF components.
• Prepare background analysis to support the Manager’s decision-making with partners, donors, and government.
• Track progress across all four pipeline components (JA DEEP, Ideathons,  Company Program, SEP) and flag risks or misalignment early.
• Represent the Manager in selecting internal and external meetings, ensuring accurate follow-through on commitments made.

Social Equity Program (SEP) Rollout 

• Own day-to-day planning and rollout of the SEP pathway, from post-secondary youth engagement through to the final competition (AfrInnovate Youth  Challenge).
•  Report on SEP progress, risks, and outcomes to the Program Manager on an agreed time period.

Cross-Program Coordination & Quality Assurance 

• Coordinate across workstream leads (JA DEEP, Ideathons, Company Program, Marketing) to spot dependencies, resourcing clashes, and timeline risks across the quarter.
• Review outputs from the Program Assistant and workstream leads for quality and strategic alignment before they reach the Manager or external audiences.
• Maintain a consolidated view of program milestones and escalate risks with a recommended course of action.
• Support budget tracking and adherence for SEP and cross-program activities,  flagging variances to the Manager.

Partnerships & Government Relations Support 

• Support development of concept notes, MOUs, and partnership materials for institutional and corporate partners.
• Support identification of new partnership and funding opportunities aligned with  SET4LYF’s strategic priorities.
• Prepare government-facing materials aligned with JA’s positioning as the upstream pipeline that supplies enterprise-ready youth to government platforms.
• Track partnership commitments and follow up on outstanding actions on JA’s side.

Donor Reporting & Compliance Support 

• Support drafting sections of quarterly and annual donor reports, ensuring evidence-based reporting including challenges and needed support.
• Work with the M&E Officer to identify and resolve data inconsistencies before figures reach donors or the government, and support the refinement of M&E tools and frameworks across programs.

Team Coordination 

• Coordinate with the Program Assistant to ensure operational execution  (logistics, data collection, documentation, scheduling) is aligned to strategic priorities and timelines.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to the Assistant on prioritization when the Manager is unavailable.
• Support planning and facilitation of team planning sessions, including quarterly and annual ones.
• Serve as backup point of contact for safeguarding matters in the Safeguarding  Officer’s absence, escalating and responding in line with JA’s safeguarding policy.

Other Duties 

• Perform other strategic or coordination duties reasonably assigned by the  Program Manager.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Education,  International Development, or a related field; a Master’s degree is an added advantage.
•  At least 2–3 years of relevant experience in program coordination, project management, or a similar role, ideally within an NGO or donor-funded program.
• Experience with donor reporting or partnership support is a strong plus.
• Strong analytical and written communication skills, able to turn information into clear recommendations rather than summaries.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative, while coordinating closely with a team.
• Ability to anticipate, prioritize, and manage multiple workstreams with attention to detail.
• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with data or program management systems.
• Understanding of, or willingness to be trained in, child safeguarding principles,  given the program’s work with youth in schools.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Rwanda to support program activities across districts.
• Fluent in English and Kinyarwanda; working knowledge of French is a bonus.
• Must be a resident of Rwanda with legal authorization to work there.

Key Skills & Competencies 

• Program Planning & Management – Ability to plan, coordinate, implement, and monitor programs effectively.
• Project & Budget Management – Ability to manage timelines, resources,  budgets, and deliverables.
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting – Ability to track program outcomes, analyze data, and prepare clear reports.
• Stakeholder Management – Ability to build and maintain relationships with partners, beneficiaries, funders, and internal teams.
• Communication & Coordination – Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and activities.

Personal Attributes 

• Accountability – Takes ownership of responsibilities, commitments, and results.
• Adaptability – Responds effectively to changing program needs and priorities.
• Attention to Detail – Ensures accuracy and quality in program documentation, reporting, and implementation.
• Collaboration – Works effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.  Proactivity & Initiative – Anticipates needs, identifies solutions, and acts without constant supervision.

TO APPLY:

Please send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@ja-africa.org with the subject line “Application for Program Officer – Your Name” (eg., Application for Program Officer – Mary Johnson). Please use the following naming convention for your application documents: “CV- Mary Johnson” and “Cover Letter – Mary Johnson”

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicant must be based in Rwanda.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The deadline for submission is Monday, 31 August 2026.